Full Breakdown
Girls with Game Make History at the 2026 Little League World Series
8/28/2026, 4:25:14 AM
Core Milestone
The 2026 Little League Baseball World Series (LLWS) featured two historic firsts for the Girls with Game program. Kinley Rasmus of Phenix City, Alabama, and Carsynn Meyer of Henderson, Nevada, became the 25th and 26th girls ever to play in the tournament and the first pair of U.S. girls to appear together in the same LLWS field. Their participation capped a multi-decade evolution that began with Victoria Roche’s debut in 1984.
Background & Context
Since 1984, individual girls have broken barriers at the LLWS, most notably Mo’ne Davis in 2014. In 2019 Little League launched the Girls with Game initiative to celebrate those pioneers and to expand opportunities for girls in baseball and softball. The program’s stated goal is gender-parity in participation by 2032. As of the 2026 tournament, 26 girls have competed in the LLWS, a figure confirmed by multiple reports.
Key Figures
- Kinley Rasmus — 12-year-old shortstop and right-handed pitcher for the Southeast Region champions. She is the daughter of former MLB pitcher Cory Rasmus and niece of former MLB outfielder Colby Rasmus.
- Carsynn Meyer — 12-year-old right-handed left fielder and catcher for the Mountain Region champions. She previously took part in the 2026 Maria Pepe Girls with Game Legacy Series.
- Little League Baseball — The governing body that administers the LLWS and the Girls with Game initiative.
Data & Statistics
- Total girls in LLWS history: 26 (2026).
- Kinley Rasmus’s pitching record: 10 2/3 scoreless innings, 14 strikeouts, tying the tournament record for strikeouts by a girl.
- Batting achievements: Rasmus recorded five hits, setting the record for most hits by a girl and delivering the first extra-base hit (a double) by a girl in LLWS history.
- Carsynn Meyer’s role: Listed as a right-handed left fielder; her participation makes her the 26th girl to play in the LLWS.
Official Statements & Responses
ESPN’s coverage team echoed the league’s ambition, stating that the program aims to provide equal opportunities for girls by 2032.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I play Little League in hopes to make it to the World Series in Williamsport like my Dad and Uncle Colby did in 1999,” — Williamsport. Kinley
- “I’ve enjoyed every single second of this whole opportunity,” — Kinley Rasmus, of Phenix City (Ala
- “I’ve always wore a bow since I was a little girl,” — Williamsport. Kinley
What’s Next
The LLWS will conclude with the International and United States championship games later this month, followed by the overall championship shortly thereafter. Little League’s Girls with Game initiative will continue to track participation metrics as it works toward its 2032 gender-parity target, and the organization plans to spotlight additional female athletes in future tournaments.
